Plans at federal level - Chamber criticizes planned pharmacy reform
A nationwide planned reform of pharmacies is facing significant criticism in Lower Saxony. The Chamber of Pharmacists in Lower Saxony warned of potential quality losses in pharmaceutical care, as reported in Hannover. The reform will not ensure the stabilization of care quality, said Cathrin Burs, President of the Chamber.
Currently, pharmacies are required to maintain "regular business hours" with possible exemptions that result in fixed opening hours. This should be made more flexible to adapt to local personnel resources and healthcare needs on site, as stated in the draft. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) recently announced that his law against resistance from the pharmacy sector would be brought before the Federal Cabinet on July 17.
Number of pharmacies continues to decline
A spokesperson for the Health Ministry in Hannover described the reform plans as a "sleight of hand trick." They would bring some relief but no structural improvement.
Burs emphasized the significant role of pharmacies. For example, during the Corona pandemic, the comprehensive network proved its worth. She criticized that there had been no adjustment of honoraria for over ten years. According to the Chamber, pharmacies receive an honorarium of 8.35 Euro for each packaged prescription medication. In addition, there is a three percent marginal fee. At the same time, personnel and energy costs have risen significantly. This development has led to an increasing number of pharmacies closing and new foundations being less attractive.
As of the end of June, there were 1,687 pharmacies in Lower Saxony, around 20 fewer than at the end of 2023, according to the Chamber. The number has been declining continuously – there were approximately 1,900 pharmacies in the state at the end of 2018 and over 2,100 in 2009.
- The critiques against the national pharmacy reform at the federal level primarily originate from Lower Saxony, where concerns over potential quality losses in pharmaceutical care have been voiced by the Chamber of Pharmacists in Hanover.
- The proposed pharmacy reform aims to make opening hours more flexible to cater to local needs, as outlined in the draft, which could potentially impact the regular business hours of pharmacies in Lower Saxony.
- Karl Lauterbach, the Federal Health Minister, has announced that his controversial law against pharmacy sector resistance will be discussed in the Federal Cabinet on July 17, even as Hanover's Health Ministry's spokesperson views the reform plans as a "sleight of hand trick."
- In the context of the ongoing pharmacy reform, Cathrin Burs, President of the Chamber of Pharmacists in Lower Saxony, stressed the importance of pharmacies in delivering medicine, particularly during the Corona pandemic, while highlighting the need for an adjustment in honoraria to offset rising personnel and energy costs, which have led to a steady decline in the number of pharmacies in Lower Saxony over the past decade.
